What are Accidental Death Benefits?

According to North Carolina Health News, North Carolina ranks 26th among the states in the U.S. in terms of the rate of death caused by injury. There are 62.1 accidental deaths for every 100,000 residents of North Carolina, which is higher than the national average of 58.2 deaths due to injury per 100,000 people.

When a death occurs as a result of an accident, financial loss occurs. The family no longer receives the income or services the deceased person was providing. Family members may be faced with funeral costs, as well as with medical treatment expenditures from treatment the deceased received to try to treat the fatal injuries.

Families should explore possible options to recover compensation, including exploring whether they have access to any accidental death benefits.

An accidental death benefit may be paid by certain life insurers. If the deceased had a life insurance policy, the policy may have had a rider providing for additional benefits when the death occurred as a result of an accident.

In some cases, individuals can also receive accidental death benefits through their place of employment. For example, Concerns of Police Survivors indicates that a total of $50,000 in death benefits may be paid out to the family of law enforcement officers in North Carolina who died in the line of duty.

Death benefits can also be available through workers’ compensation for all covered workers who died as a result of performing their job duties. Workers’ compensation death benefits can be paid regardless of whether an employer was negligent or not, provided the death was work-related. The majority of North Carolina employees are covered by workers’ compensation and their dependents will be entitled to workers’ compensation death benefits.

Finally, a civil lawsuit for wrongful death may be filed under appropriate circumstances if a third party caused an accident resulting in death. To recover in a wrongful death claim, negligence or wrongdoing must be proved. Many wrongful death cases settle outside of court, provided there is strong evidence of liability.

A Charlotte injury lawyer can provide assistance in exploring all possible sources of compensation after death, including accidental death benefits. Contact an attorney for help today.